The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Volume 1)

Description

The first volume of the fifteenth-century spiritual classic that condenses the enormous breadth of Buddhist teachings into one easy-to-follow meditation manual. The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Tibetan title- Lam rim chen mo) is one of the brightest jewels in the world's treasury of sacred literature, and certainly in the world of Tibetan Buddhism. The author, Tsong-kha-pa, completed this masterpiece in 1402 to help lead people along a series of progressive stages from this-worldly self-centeredness to cosmically altruistic expansiveness. For centuries it has continued to be essential reading for any student of Buddhist thought who wants to put the Buddha's teachings into practice. Volume One covers all practices that are prerequisite for developing the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta), which is the heart of the Mahayana tradition.

JE TSONG-KHA-PA (1357-1419), founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, was one of Tibet's greatest philosophers and a prolific writer. His works combine a profound meditative spirituality with meticulous reasoning. THE LAMRIM CHENMO TRANSLATION COMMITTEE is composed of Jose Cabez n, Daniel Cozort, Joshua W. C. Cutler, Natalie Hauptman, Roger R. Jackson, Karen Lang, Donald S. Lopez Jr., John Makransky, Elizabeth S. Napper, Guy Newland, John Newman, Gareth Sparham, B. Alan Wallace, and Joe B. Wilson.

"Of the many works of the Tibetan master Tsong-kha-pa, none compare in terms of popularity and breadth of influence with his Great Treatise, which has been treasured by practitioners and scholars alike for centuries. What distinguishes it as one of the principal texts of Mahayana Buddhism is its scope and clarity. It expounds the entire path from the way one should rely on a spiritual teacher, which is the very root, right up to the attainment of Buddhahood, which is the final fruit. The various stages of the path are presented so clearly and systematically that they can be easily understood and are inspiring to put into practice."-H.H. the Dalai Lama "One of the greatest religious or secular works in the library of our human heritage."-Robert A. F. Thurman, Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University "The present translation in three volumes is a remarkable accomplishment and a great gift to all students and practitioners of Vajrayana. The teachings, given open-handedly in this key text, are essential for anyone hoping to enter into or attain success in the higher (Tantric) stages of the path. The wisdom found in the nearly 1,200 pages of this work is truly astonishing and liberating. As Robert Thurman mentions in his foreword, Je Tsong-kha-pa's treatise can cause a 'paradigm shift' in the reader from a self-centered individual concerned with his own happiness to a bodhisattva for whom the happiness of others has become an ultimate concern. May it be so!"-Georg Feuerstein, author of The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra "As timely and radiant as ever. An indispensable work for Buddhists of all stripes."-Tricycle "This is a classic of religious thought and is essential for libraries with a demonstrated interest in Buddhism or comparative religion. It should also be considered for all larger research collections and public libraries."-Library Journal